What Is the Lemon Law in Ohio?

The Ohio Lemon Law defines a lemon as a new motor vehicle that has one or more problems that are covered until the vehicle warranty and "substantially impair the use, value, or safety" of the vehicle. To qualify as a lemon under the law, the vehicle must be a passenger car, a non-commercial motor vehicle, or a motorcycle, and the problem must happen during the first year of ownership or 18,000 miles on the odometer, whichever occurs first. The owner of the vehicle must give the dealer or manufacturer a reasonable number of chances to correct the issue. If they cannot, the vehicle probably qualifies as a lemon under Ohio law.

According to the Ohio Attorney General, the Lemon Law allows dealers and manufacturers to have a reasonable number of opportunities to correct a new vehicle's problem or problems before they face punitive action. The law defines a reasonable number in several ways. If the vehicle only has one problem, three attempts to fix that same problem are considered reasonable. If there are different problems, the number increases to eight attempts. If the problem is something that could cause serious injury or death to someone operating or riding in the vehicle, then only one attempt is considered reasonable. The law also says that a new vehicle should not be in the shop for a cumulative total of more than 30 days. If the time exceeds 30 days, it is considered beyond reasonable.

If the dealer or manufacturer has been unable to solve the problem after a reasonable number of attempts, the vehicle's owner has the legal right to ask that the vehicle be replaced or that the entire purchase price be refunded. The owner gets to choose which of these options she prefers. This allows her to get a problem-free replacement vehicle or simply opt for getting her money back.

A consumer who believes his car qualifies as a lemon should send a certified letter to the vehicle's manufacturer. The address is usually in the owner's manual, or the dealer can provide it. The letter should list all of the problems that the owner has experienced, the attempts that were made to correct them and the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the vehicle in question. It should also specify whether he is requesting a new replacement vehicle or whether he wants a refund of the purchase price. The consumer should always keep a copy of the letter for his records. The manufacturer may agree to the car owner's request, or it may ask for another chance to fix the problem. They may also try to negotiate a mutually satisfactory solution. You may be able to request arbitration to assist with the negotiation process. Many automakers have arbitration programs that are approved by the Ohio Attorney General. If you're dealing with a company that has an approved program, you will be required to go through arbitration before you can file a lawsuit. If you are not happy with the proposed solution and your automaker doesn't have an approved program, or if you go through arbitration and are not satisfied with the outcome, you can sue to get the total cost of the vehicle and your attorney's fees. You must file your case within five years of delivery of the vehicle.

The Ohio Lemon Law does not cover used vehicles, so you will not receive any protection if you buy a vehicle that is over one year old or has more than 18,000 miles on the odometer. If you have a problem with a used vehicle, you will not be able to pursue the dealer or manufacturer under this law.